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7. Alcander's miseries had been so accumulated, and his distresses so undeserved, that his mind at last was worn down by his afflictions, and he became indifferent to every thing around him. In this situation he was discovered, and dragged to a court of justice, as the murderer of the man whose body had been found in the cave. Weary of existence, he did not deny the charge; and sentence was going to be pronounced against him, when the murderer, smitten with a pang of conscience, entered the court, and avowed the fact!

8. Astonishment seized every mind, but particularly that of the judge who was going to comdemn him, who, examining the countenance of a man capable of such singular conduct, discovered the features of his beloved friend, Alcander! Rising from the throne of justice, and flying to the bar of guilt, he caught his suffering Alcander in his arms, and, after shedding over him tears of joy and compassion, presented him to the Senators as a man whose disinterested conduct had been the means of preserving his own existence.

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INGRATITUDE-Story of Inkle and Yarico.

1. AMIDST the various vices to which human nature is prone, none more strikingly evince its debasement than ingratitude. For other vices, and other failings, reason may be able to assign a cause; but for that she must search in vain. That kindness should ever be returned with cruelty, or affection be treated with neglect, is humanity's shame, and man's disgrace.

2. Mr. Thomas Inkle, a young merchant of London, was the third son of a wealthy citizen, who had carefully instilled into his mind a desire of acquiring wealth; and this propensity, which he had imbibed from precept, and felt from nature, was the grand inducement for him to try his fortune in the West Indies. Inkle's person was absolutely the reverse of his mind: the former was manly and noble; but the latter mean and contracted.

3. During the voyage, the Achilles, the vessel in which he embarked, put into a creek to avoid the fury of a storm; and young Inkle, with several of the party, went on shore, to take a view of a scene so entirely new. They had not walked far up the country before they were observed by a party of Indians, and fear and apprehension lent wings to their flight. Inkla

outran his companions, and breathless with terror, sought security in the thicket of a forest.

4. He had not been there long, when he was surprised by the appearance of a young female, whose benignant countenance seemed instantly to compassionate his forlorn situation. The name of the female was Yarico. Gentleness and sweetness were displayed in every feature; and when Inkle, by signs, acquainted her with his condition, she evidently proved that sympathy was confined to no particular clime, and that humanity depends not upon the color of the skin.

5. The generous Indian was a woman of high birth; and knowing that the tenderness she felt for the unfortunate stranger would be displeasing to her parents, she knew the necessity of disguising it. She conducted Inkle to a remote cave, supplied his wants, and daily administered to his comforts. Her affection in time became so strong, that she scarcely could exist but in his presence.

6. Fearful that he would grow weary of his confinement, she used to watch the opportunities of her parents' absence, and then conduct him into the beauteous groves, with which that country abounds; then persuade him to lie down and slumber, and anxiously watch by him for fear he should be disturbed! His little dwelling was adorned with all the elegance that native art could suggest, and unsuspecting innocence employ, to make it appear pleasing to her lover's eyes.

7. At length Yarico had the happiness of finding Inkle undei stand her language, and of hearing him express the strength of his gratitude, and power of his love. Inkle was constantly representing the joys that would await them, if they could once return to England, and painted his passion in such glowing colors, that the unsuspecting Yarico could not doubt its sincerity, and at length promised not only to become the partner of his flight, but daily watch the arrival of some vessel to promote it.

8. The wished for object soon appeared; the unsuspicious Yarico left the abode of her doating parents, and, forgetful of duty, thought only of her affection. The ship in which they had embarked was bound for Barbadoes,* and all Inkle's ideas of acquiring wealth returned with double force. Love, which had been a transitory passion, and which had its foundation in interest, now yielded to a superior claim. His freedom once obtained the means were totally forgotten, and the unfortunate Yarico was considered as a tax upon his bounty.

* Barbadoes, the most eastern of the West India Islands.

9. As soon as the vessel arrived at Barbadoes, the merchants crowded around it for the purpose of purchasing slaves. The despicable Inkle was animated at the sight, and resolving to relieve himself of what he considered a burden, offered the beauteous Yarico, his amiable deliverer, to the highest bidder! It was in vain that she threw herself on her knees before him, or pleaded her tenderness and affection; the heart that could be dead to gratitude was lost to love; and the unfortunate Yarico was doomed to a life of slavery!!

LESSON LVI.

The Battle of Blenheim*-SOUTHEY.

1. It was a summer evening;

Old Kaspar's work was done;
And he, before his cottage door,
Was sitting in the sun;

And by him sported on the green,
His little grandchild, Wilhemine.
2. She saw her brother Peterkin

Roll something large and round,
That he beside the rivulet,

In playing there had found;

He came to ask what he had found,
That was so large, and smooth, and round.

3. Old Kaspar took it from the boy,

Who stood expectant by ;

And then the old man shook his head,
And with a natural sigh,

'Tis some poor fellow's skull, said he,
Who fell in the great victory.

4. I find them in the garden, for
There's many here about,
And often when I go to plough,
The ploughshare turns them out;
For many
thousand men, said he,

Were slain in this great victory.

* Blenheim, a town in the north-western part of Austria, on the river Danube. It is famous for the great victory obtained in its vicinity, on the 13th of August, 1704, by the English and Austrians, under the duke of Marlbo rough and prince Eugene, over the French and Bavarians, commanded þ marshals Tallard, Marsin, and the elector of Bavaria. The loss of † • French and Bavarians exceeded 30,000; that of the allies was 12,000.

5. Now tell us what 'twas all about,
Young Peterkin he cries;
And little Wilhemine looks up,
With wonder waiting eyes;
Now tell us all about the war,
And what they killed each other for.
6. It was the English, Kaspar cried,
That put the French to rout;
But what they kill'd each other for,
I could not well make out;
But every body said, quoth he,
That 'twas a famous victory;

7. My father liv'd at Blenheim then,
Yon little stream hard by;
They burnt his dwelling to the ground,
And he was forc'd to fly :

So with his wife and child he fled,
Nor had he where to rest his head.

8. With fire and sword the country round
Was wasted far and wide,

And many a chiding mother then,
And new-born infant died;

But things like this, you know, must be
At every famous victory.

9. Great praise the noble General won,
And our good friend Eugene ;*-
Why, 'twas a very wicked thing,
Said little Wilhemine;

Nay, nay, my little girl, quoth he,
It was a famous victory.

10. And every body praised the Duket
Who such a fight did win;

But what good came of it at last?
Said little Peterkin;

Why-that-I cannot tell, said he,
But 'twas a famous victory.

Francis Eugene, Prince of Savoy, born in 1663. lighted by Louis XIV. in France, his native country, he

Finding himself retired to Germa

ny, and spent his life in the service of the Austrians. His victories over the Turks, and afterwards over the French, have rendered his name immortal. He died at Vienna, 1736.

* Duke of Marlborough, an Englishmar.

LESSON LVII. 2

The Dog and the Fox.-GAY.
1. A SHEPHERD's dog, unskilled in sports,
Picked up acquaintance of all sorts.
Among the rest a fox he knew;

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By frequent chat their friendship grew.
2. Says Renard, " "Tis a cruel case,
That man should stigmatize our race.
No doubt, among us, rogues you find,
As among dogs and human kind;
And yet, (unknown to me and you,)
There may be honest men and true.

3. "Thus slander tries, whate'er it can,
To put us on the foot with man.
Let my own actions recommend;
No prejudice can blind a friend;
You know me free from all disguise;
My honor as my life I prize."

4. By talk like this, from all mistrust The dog was cured, and thought him just. As on a time the fox held forth

On conscience, honesty, and worth,
Sudden he stopped; he cocked his ear,
Low dropped his brushy tail with fear.
"Bless us! the hunters are abroad:
What's all that clatter on the road?"

5. "Hold," says the dog; "we're safe from harm; 'Twas nothing but a false alarm.

At yonder town, 'tis market day;

Some farmer's wife is on the way:

"Tis so, (I know her pie-bald mare,)

Dame Dobbins, with her poultry-ware."

6. Renard grew huff. Says he, "This sneer,

From you, I little thought to hear.

Your meaning in your looks I see;

Pray, what's dame Dobbins, friend, to me?
Did I e'er make her poultry thinner?

Prove that I owe the dame a dinner."

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7. " Friend," quoth the cur, " I meant no harm,

Then why so captious? why so warm?
My words, in common acceptation,
Could never give this provocation;
No lamb (for aught I ever knew)
May be more innocent than you."

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